Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Coathanger16]

I managed to read the article yesterday before it became subscription only and I believe the 25 minute transfer was for limited/no spending on any connection between the HS2 station and the airport.

To be honest, I don't know where they've even got the 25 minutes from - Google maps suggests it would only take 45 minutes to walk. I can only think 25 minutes would be for a bus stopping at the NEC, current Birmingham International station and some car parks.

I would imagine the type of connection put in place would depend on what they decide to do at the HS2 site. If they go for just limited check-in/bag drop then an extension to the current people move with another set of "trains" would probably just about cut it. If they go for a full terminal, and effectively make the existing site air side only, something more will be needed.

If they go for the latter (terminal at HS2) I wonder how the existing rail station would fit it. Arriving at that station to then go to HS2 to check-in and go through security, to then go back to the existing site would be rather long and cumbersome. Would that then mean adding check-in and security to the existing station as well?

 

[Brum X]

So a 31 minute train ride from London to Birmingham, but 25 mins from the HS2 station to the airport terminal. Only in the UK could that backwards way of thinking be considered!

But lets wait for some more details before jumping the gun.

 

[TM3]

Read the comments about having a bag drop in the terminal and in made me think of HKG. There you can check in and drop your bag in Hong Kong Central or Kowloon, this is a really convenient feature.

Maybe they should facilitate in town check in at Euston for BHX, that could be a game changer when it comes to picking up passengers from London.

 

[Brum X]

Read the comments about having a bag drop in the terminal and in made me think of HKG. There you can check in and drop your bag in Hong Kong Central or Kowloon, this is a really convenient feature.

Maybe they should facilitate in town check in at Euston for BHX, that could be a game changer when it comes to picking up passengers from London.

Exactly, it could indeed be a massive game changer and one for the better in BHX's case when it is very limited on its existing site. BHX does not have too many options to consider.

 

[Coathanger16]

Read the comments about having a bag drop in the terminal and in made me think of HKG. There you can check in and drop your bag in Hong Kong Central or Kowloon, this is a really convenient feature.

Maybe they should facilitate in town check in at Euston for BHX, that could be a game changer when it comes to picking up passengers from London.

A number of years ago, I'd been visiting Shenzhen (just across the water from Hong Kong). In the morning, we caught a ferry to Hong Kong and checked in our bags at the station (which I think was at the same place as the ferry port). Our flight wasn't until the evening, meaning we could go explore Hong Kong without having to worry about our bags. Very handy feature!

Whilst it would certainly be a welcome addition to BHX, the only problem would be getting the baggage from Euston to BHX. Some carriage space would have to be sacrificed for luggage, and bearing in mind the trains would continue beyond BHX to the North, that then effectively becomes wasted space which could otherwise be used for passengers. The line between Hong Kong and the airport is the airport express line, so is only used to get to/from the airport.

 

[TM3]

The trains need to be high frequency to make it work, mainly to people can get to the airport "on-demand". This also somewhat reduces the requirement for large amounts of baggage space.

As people using the facility are checking in early all of the baggage doesn't have to go on the next train, in can be spread out when there is space.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Details of the runway night closures in November.

https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BHX_W17_AIP-Supplement-night-closures.pdf

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Details of the runway night closures in November.

https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BHX_W17_AIP-Supplement-night-closures.pdf

'3.2. Drainage works along the runway edge.'
Is this the runway 33 ILS problem still on going?

Kevin

 

[Matt995]

'3.2. Drainage works along the runway edge.'
Is this the runway 33 ILS problem still on going?

Kevin

it might be more to do with this on the Notams:-

Q) EGTT/QMRLT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 17/05/19 15:27C) TO: 17/06/18 23:59
E) WHEN RWY 15/33 SURFACE IS BROADCAST AS WET, STANDING WATER IS
EXPECTED ON THE RWY EDGE BETWEEN TWY F AND B

mind you it does say on the W17 work :-

4.2. Navigation Aids
4.2.1. RWY 33 ILS – may be restricted to Localiser only during the works period. Exact details and timings of any outages will be promulgated by NOTAM.

at present the 33 ILS is still localiser only, so even if it does get fixed in the summer, its going to be downgraded again for winter! **bangs head against the wall!**

 

[Kevin Farnell]

at present the 33 ILS is still localiser only

Hadn't realised that it was that bad. I thought runway 33 was ILS CAT I.
If low visibility procedures are due to fog, then wind speeds are rarely above 5 Kts. In these circumstances, runway 15 would be available. The problem occurs with very low cloud cover and high winds, whereby runway 15 may be unavailable due to a strong tailwind component.

The runway 33 ILS problem has dragged on for such a ling time now. It has been said before, that this is due to drainage. If so, there must be a major engineering problem.

Kevin

 

[Matt995]

Hadn't realised that it was that bad. I thought runway 33 was ILS CAT I.
If low visibility procedures are due to fog, then wind speeds are rarely above 5 Kts. In these circumstances, runway 15 would be available. The problem occurs with very low cloud cover and high winds, whereby runway 15 may be unavailable due to a strong tailwind component.

The runway 33 ILS problem has dragged on for such a ling time now. It has been said before, that this is due to drainage. If so, there must be a major engineering problem.

Kevin

The 33 ILS was Cat I last summer, but when they 'tried to fix it' from November last year it has remained as a localiser only approach (Glide slope unserviceable). Its Notamed now until the end of June.

I believe that special drainage soil/grass has been laid in the 33 ILS critical area to stop the drainage issue, at a large expense to the airport, and they are hoping the grass will have grown and bedded in by the end of June! I wouldnt hold your breath though!

can any one confirm if that grass has grown yet by the 33 ILS glideslope?

 

[Brum X]

Around 40 jobs have been saved or created after Azzurra Premiere Handling takes contracts at the airport.

Baggage handling company Azzurra Premiere Handling, which already operates at Manchester and Heathrow airports, is providing a second ground handling business to serve the airlines that use Birmingham.

The initiative has created or saved nearly 40 jobs at the airport and the company said further expansion was expected.

Azzurra Premiere Handling has already won contracts to support BMI Regional and Brussels Airlines with a full range of ground-based services including check-in, boarding, baggage handling, push back and aircraft cleaning.

Azzurra Premiere Handling is a newly formed company between Premiere Handling of Manchester and Azzurra Handling at London Heathrow.

"Birmingham and the West Midlands also remains a powerhouse.....there are great opportunities for growth in both business and leisure passengers."

Vittorio Mazza, director with Azzurra, added: "This is our first step outside of the London market and we see a great opportunity to build a presence at one of the fastest growing airports in the UK, forecasted to handle over 13 million passengers in 2017."

Last year, Birmingham Airport was at the centre of a row over baggage handling services when Aviator decided it was pulling out of the airport and removing nearly 200 staff.

Its handling services were subsequently taken over by Swissport but then its own staff threatened strike action in the run up to Christmas before eventually cancelling the planned walkout.

Director with Premiere Handling Julian van Gelder said: "This is an excellent airport that is well located at the heart of the country with great road and rail links.

 

[CL44]

Over on the Elmdon side (just to the side of the Control Tower and behind Alpha) there seems to be rather a lot of excavation going on (one person in the office reckoned it looked like a new BMX track!!!). Does anyone have any ideas asto what they might be starting?

 

[BHX Old Timer]

Hi First time User, and yes I am 'Old', back to the Good Old Elmdon Days lol !!
Excavation work taking place is an Extension to Car Park 7 creating a lot more parking than as at present.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Welcome aboard BHX Old Timer!

Hi First time User, and yes I am 'Old', back to the Good Old Elmdon Days lol !!

You are not alone here. There are quite a few of us 'oldies', that reminisce about the days of the Elmdon terminal.
Have a trawl back thought the 'Nostalgia' (http://www.forums4airports.com/threads/2172/page-28) and 'Birmingham Airport - Picture thread' (http://www.forums4airports.com/threads/1922/page-63) topics. I'm sure you will find things of interest.
Myself, and I'm sure many others would love to hear of your memories and also view any old photos that you may have.

Excavation work taking place is an Extension to Car Park 7 creating a lot more parking than as at present.

Thanks for the clarification.

Regards

Kevin

 

[Brum X]

Big changes to Bus routes in Birmingham and Solihull from 4th June 2017.

Re: Night Services

97A Withdrawn

X1 (900) Goes 24/7


http://nxbus.co.uk/files/NX-West-Mi.../2017-timetables/4th-June/BX001_04Jun2017.pdf

 

[IanFarquharson]

BHX Experience

Sat 27 May - Straight through security at 19.00 no queue at all. A380 broken so parked remote, full flight bussed to aircraft and on time departure

Sun 4 June - Landed from Dubai early at 1920
Good to see the airbridge back in use however as we were early the guidance system hadn't been activated !
Once into the terminal the was a longish queue at passport control despite only 6 out if 15 staff present we were through in less than 15 mins
Got to the baggage belts and the bags were already coming around recovered our 4 cases very quickly then jumped into a black cab and back in the house at 2015
So less than an hour after landing.

Well done to all at BHX

Ian

 

[Brummiegem]

Big changes to Bus routes in Birmingham and Solihull from 4th June 2017.

Re: Night Services

97A Withdrawn

X1 (900) Goes 24/7


http://nxbus.co.uk/files/NX-West-Mi.../2017-timetables/4th-June/BX001_04Jun2017.pdf

Also in addition to this,the 966 has been withdrawn.
It has sort of been replaced by the X12,but no longer serves Erdington.It operates from the City Centre to Castle Bromwich limited stop and into Chelmsley Wood,NEC/Airport and on to Solihull.
Not sure these changes have really helped with Airport worker shift patterns,depending on where you live of course.It would also be interesting to know how many passengers use the services.

 

[Coathanger16]

The new premium drop off opened last week. I believe the new free drop & go at car park 5 was supposed to be opening this week or next.

Anyone know when the new baggage system will be fully operational?

 

[Brum X]

Looks like the new hotel has started folks
Photo's from PerpectualBrum on SSC